Romance and characters

[author_by_night]

At Sugarquill's forums, there's a thread about Sirius, and whether he would have been in love or not. Also, story646 (please tell me I got the numbers right) posted about romance in general. So, I am posting my thoughts.

Ron and Hermione heard shouting as they huddled in the dormitory, shaking.

"Harry's fighting," Ron said.

Hermione nodded. She wanted to help, but it was his battle to fight.

Suddenly, her and Ron's lips met. They kissed, and found themselves kissing more, their kisses....

BACKSPACE!

Let's analyze what is wrong with this picture:

1. Hermione and Ron are hiding, letting Harry fight on his own.

2. They are making out while their best friend's life is in danger.

You might ask, what's wrong with hurt/comfort?

Well, here's the problem. They aren't just comforting one another - they are tongue to tongue, completely lost in the moment. Sorry, but I think they'd be too worried about Harry to really want to start a snog session.

This is why romance fics (as well as stories and even professionally published books) often turn out badly. The author fails to explore more than one type of love - and therefore, the lovers come out looking selfish.

Let's look at an actual literary work: Romeo & Juliet. My biggest problem was that none of them seem to have any regrets about what they are doing whatsoever. Juliet is perfectly willing to let her family believe she is dead so she can go off and be with a man she met at a party. Where is the fairness in that?

Love shouldn't work like that. Writers need to explore the fact that everyone loves different people - at the same time.  If that wasn't the case, what would happen to children? To close friends? To parents of the couple? Those people always remain loved.

I think the way to make sure everyone is loved equally in a fic is to look at how realistic a situation might be. Could Sirius truly have been in love  with someone during OoTP, perhaps someone who had moved away after his arrest, and that he was trying to track down - and still loved Harry that much? Absolutely. Lily loved Harry enough to die for him, but we can assume she was in love with James, too.

However, is it likely that if the woman (supposing Sirius lives in the fic, and finds her or vice versa) tried to distract him from Harry, it would go over will with Sirius? Not at all. The woman would have to not just know Sirius loved Harry as a son, but she'd have to care about him as well. Therefore, it would probably be an easier situation to write if the woman had some connection to Harry as well (friend of Lily's, etc), or if she was a very caring person. But it can still be done.

 Let's look at the trio next. I've been told that none of the trio could date without one of them being the "odd one out", but I disagree. I think the one not shipped might feel a little strange at first, but he or she would get used to it. I know a RL "trio" - my cousin, her boyfriend, and their best friend. When he's around, they all act as if they are all friends, and you never get any sense that one of them is loved less, or that any of them feel this could be the case. I think the two trio characters would be tactful enough to make sure this was the case as well. (Though if the ship was Ron/Harry, Hermione might have to say or do something first, as Ron and Harry do seem to get carried away with one another as friends).

My point, I guess, is that love can be written well without any parties being left out, or without the characters looking utterly selfish. It just takes willingness to work in other ambitions, values, and loved ones.